Sports shorts: Kaneland girls soccer rolls in league opener

Morris' Emily Burling (right) and Kaneland's Taylor Zitkus battle for possession of the ball during the first half Tuesday in Morris.

By KANE COUNTY CHRONICLE

MORRIS – Another complete effort propelled the Kaneland girls soccer team to a 3-0 victory at Morris in its Northern Illinois Big 12 East opener Tuesday.

Courtney Diddell and Holly Collingbourne tallied first-half goals for the Knights, with Michelle Ortiz providing an insurance goal down the stretch of the second half.

“You know what, we’re playing pretty well right now,” Knights coach Scott Parillo said. “We’re able to possess the ball and create opportunities for us to score and limit the opponent’s scoring opportunities.”

Jess Coia, Heather Ortiz and Kiandra Powell each had assists for Kaneland, which improved to 5-1-0 overall. The Knights resume a busy stretch today with a West Aurora Tournament match against East Aurora, and would earn the tourney title with a win.

“It could be a pretty good week for us,” Parillo said.

Walter, Stitz pace North girls soccer to victory

ST. CHARLES – The St. Charles North girls soccer team withstood a persistent Hersey attack to earn a 1-0 victory on its home field in Pepsi Tournament action.

Playing Hersey for the first time in veteran coach Ruth Vostal’s 14 seasons, North (7-1-0) made an early goal from Ashlyn Walter stand up. Hanna Durocher had the assist.

“It was tough,” Vostal said. “I thought in the first half we created a lot of chances and then with the field being so wet, the play got a little bit ugly with some players slipping. … It wasn’t real pretty in the second half, but we weathered their storm.”

The Huskies challenged North goalkeeper Shelby Stitz, who made eight saves for the shutout, and had four corner kick opportunities in the closing minutes.

“We had enough people back there, so we were able to keep it off the goal line,” Vostal said.

Geneva boys tennis sweeps Larkin

GENEVA – John Potts and Ryan Doeckel earned a 6-0, 6-0 sweep at No. 1 doubles as part of the Geneva boys tennis team’s 7-0 victory against Larkin in an Upstate Eight Conference River Division match.

The Cougars benefited from sterling pitching to defeat Bowling Green, 2-0 and 1-0 in a pair of seven-inning games. Paul Blackburn, a supplemental first-round pick of the parent Cubs in 2012, struck out six and allowed one hit in a combined one-hitter with Jose Arias in the nightcap.

Kane County (9-3) has won six straight.

Jen-Ho Tseng, a 19-year-old non-drafted free agent from Taiwan, scattered six hits and six strikeouts in 51/3 innings to earn his first professional win in Game 1. Zack Godley earned the save with 12/3 innings of one-hit relief.